During the Korean War period, Hispanic Americans served honorably during the conflict. Five Hispanic American Marines posthumously received the Medal of Honor for their actions on the penisula.

One of the five, First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC, received the award for his actions during the Inchon Invasion.

In October 1955, Horacio Riverio was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned to monitor the H-bomb program as the Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project.

Hispanic Women continued to serve in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps with Seaman Juanita Mancillas being one example of many who continued to serve their country.

Continue here for Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Navy - 1960s.

Photo #: NH 106925 First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC First Lieutenant Lopez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" while serving during the Korean War with Third Platoon, Company A, First Battaltion, Fifth Marines on 15 September 1950. When a grenade landed in his vicinity during the Inchon Invasion, he selflessly shielded the blast from his comrades, which resulted in mortal wounds. Lopez graduated from Naval Academy in 1947. Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 73KB; 600 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 96876 Inchon Invasion, September 1950 First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC, leads the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines over the seawall on the northern side of Red Beach, as the second assault wave lands, 15 September 1950. Wooden scaling ladders are in use to facilitate disembarkation from the LCVP that brought these men to the shore. Lt. Lopez was killed in action within a few minutes, while assaulting a North Korean bunker. Note M-1 Carbine carried by Lt. Lopez, M-1 Rifles of other Marines and details of the Marines' field gear. U.S. Marine Corps Photograph. Online Image: 97KB; 600 x 765
Photo #: NH 106930 Private First Class Eugene A. Obregon, USMC Private First Class Obregon served with Company G, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life " while shielding a wounded and fallen friend under attack at Seoul, Korea on 26 September 1950. He was subsequently mortally wounded by enemy machine gun fire. Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 720 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 106929 Private First Class Edward Gomez, USMC Private First Class Gomez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" while serving as an Ammunition Bearer in Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) at Hill 749 on 14 September 1951. When an incoming grendade entered the vicinity of his machine-gun team, he covered the grenade with his body, sacrificing his life to save his comrades. Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 74KB; 720 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 106927 USS Corduba (AF-32) Puerto Rican WAVES learn navigation under the supervision of QM1 Walter M. Zubik, USN. This exercise took place when Corduba was in port at San Juan, Puerto Rico in November 1951. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 101KB; 900 x 750 pixels
Photo #: NH 106926 Private First Class Fernando L. Garcia, USMC Garcia, a Puerto-Rican Marine, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" while serving with Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division a mile forward of the reinforced line on 5 September 1952. Already wounded during a savage enemy attack, Garcia threw himself upon an enemy grenade and was mortally wounded. Camp Fernando Luis Garcia at Vieques, Puerto Rico was named in honor of Garcia. Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 720 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 106924 Seaman Juanita (Hernandez) Mancillas, USNR Seaman Mancillas was in the WAVES program from December 1952 to December 1956. Courtesy of the Women in Military service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 49KB; 600 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 106979 Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen, USMC Staff Sergeant Guillen was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 25 July 1953. With his unit pinned down, he bravely refused treatment after being seriously wounded and continued to fight the enemy. Guillen died later from his wounds. Courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 81KB; 700 x 925 pixels
Photo #: NH 106928 Chief Boilerman Frank D. Oliva, USN Chief Oliva makes an adjustment on gauge setting in the engineroom on board USS Graffias (AF-29). In August 1959, he completed forty-five years of continuous service, with forty-three of them spent at sea. During an interview in "All Hands" magazine, he stated his favorite port was Shanghai in 1916. Upon his retirement, which wasn't planned for another five years, he stated that he would probably go home to live with his 90-year old mother. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 117KB; 720 x 925 pixels

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To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.